Fire Department Opens New Station, Promotes 8

Aurora — The city's eighth fire station became fully operational Tuesday when the engine company moved into the west side station while contractors put finishing touches on the building.

At a ribbon-cutting, Mayor David Pierce also officially promoted eight firefighters on the 188-person Fire Department. The city recently hired 12 new firefighters to staff the station, which also houses a ladder truck and ambulance with a paramedic unit.

It is expected to cost about $750,000 a year to staff the station, one of the signs that the city's expanded public safety needs will further squeeze the budget.

The station, built at a cost of about $1.5 million by RC Wegman Construction Co., will help the city accommodate increasing fire service needs in the rapidly growing city.